Local musicians meld to produce metal powerhouse

Black Titan has emerged from the bowels of the Mobile underground scene. This group brings together Sunshine Factory’s Ian Taylor and Clayton Bates (also of The Modern Eldorados), Port Wine Stain’s Jimmy Lee and Thomas Killpatrick.

Black Titan has crafted a wicked mixture of stoner, doom and sludge metal. Those familiar with the shoegaze sounds of Sunshine Factory, the ’50s revival of The Modern Eldorados and the avant-garde music of Port Wine Stain will be surprised by the vehement sound produced by the members of Black Titan.

Black Titan is currently showcasing songs off of their self-titled debut. This group has a classic metal sound. “Burn the House Down” is a veritable tribute to old school Black Sabbath with its grooving riffs. The rage of “New Black Suit” is balanced with stoned, relaxed vocals. “YODO” is a doom metal masterpiece that takes the listener on a steady descent into the bowels of the underworld.

The members of Black Titan are known for filling their schedule with a variety of musical projects. Hopefully, Black Titan will be around for a little while.

Dance fever for show at Saenger

Things got a little rowdy at Old Crow Medicine Show’s performance at the Saenger. It was clearly not a typical performance of Americana. As the curtain rose, the group eased the crowd into “Brushy Mountain Conjugal Trailer,” which is the first single off of their new album “Remedy.” They also regaled the crowd with favorites such as “Alabama High Test,” “Roll Alabama” and (of course) “Wagon Wheel.” Opener Holly Williams also joined the band for “Angel from Montgomery” and the encore, which was Dylan’s “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again.”

What made this show extremely memorable was the crowd’s response. The Saenger is known for being a very calm, controlled environment, even when bands like Queensryche and Alice Cooper have performed. For Old Crow, the crowd just could not help themselves, and they began to rush the stage to dance just inches from the band. It started as a trickle and then turned into an ocean of foot-stompin’ Old Crow fans that security could not contain. The band was impressed with the audience’s enthusiasm on their first visit to the Azalea City and promised to return.

Teens form impressive rock band

The denizens of the Azalea City have been getting to know The Stereo Dogs. This quartet of 13 and 14 year olds have impressed their audiences at venues such as Mellow Mushroom and Pelican Reef. The musical talent displayed by this group of young musicians is evidence that each member has a promising future in music ahead of them.

Each song is played with accuracy and dedication, and it is clearly translated at the live shows. Even though their set is limited to covers, The Stereo Dogs are working on some original music. Until then, the public can catch them on Sunday, June 8 at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital’s NICU Reunion.

About The Author

With the exception of two years spent at Auburn University, Steve Centanni has spent his life in Mobile County while focusing on his two passions: music and the written word. As soon as he was issued his driver’s license, Centanni began to explore the local music scene in the early ‘90s.
He filled his weekend with visits classic local venues such as the Four Strong Winds Coffee House, Vincent Van Go-Go’s and Culture Shock, all of which welcomed those who had yet to reach 18. After high school, Centanni traded Mobile for Auburn to complete his B.A. in English with an emphasis on general writing.
While at Auburn, he had the honor of studying under the Pulitzer-winning poet Natasha Trethewey, who served as the nation’s Poet Laureate in 2012 and 2014. After receiving his diploma, Centanni quickly moved back to Mobile and completed the University of South Alabama’s graduate program with a M.Ed. Eventually, he was tapped by the nationally distributed Volume Entertainment Magazine to serve as the magazine’s managing editor/senior writer.
His time with Volume allowed him to exercise his love for both music and writing. As Volume began to fade, Lagniappe recruited Centanni as their Music Writer and later their Music Editor, where he has remained for a little over a decade.
As far as his involvement in the local music scene, Centanni organized Cess Fest at the Langan Park, which was a mini-festival focused on original local music in a time when original local music was veritably taboo in Downtown Mobile. For a short time, he brought original music to Downtown Mobile as the in-house promoter for the now deceased venue Cell Block. He managed local underground powerhouse Fry Cook, until the members parted ways. Centanni has lent his bass to bands such as Keychain Pistol and The F’n A-Holes, and he toured nationally as a member of Abstract Artimus & the Torture Children.
Currently, he provides vocals for the garage blues rock outfit Johnny No. Ultimately, Centanni’s experience in the local music scene as both a participant and an observer has allowed him to witness the ever-changing persona of Mobile’s enigmatic music scene, which continues to leave him with more questions than answers.